Thomas Byrne
Ceist:284. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he has taken on foot of the Action Plan on Bullying. [21427/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 May 2018
Ceisteanna (284)
Freagraí scríofa
The Action Plan on Bullying, which was published in January 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying and promoting an anti-bullying culture in schools. It recommended 12 actions that focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed. A number of these actions have been implemented in full while others, which by their nature involve continuous action, are the subject of ongoing implementation.
As part of the implementation of the Action Plan, National Anti-Bullying Procedures for schools, which were published in September 2013, are currently being implemented by all 4,000 primary and post primary schools in the country.
Other actions include support for anti-bullying awareness raising initiatives and the development and roll out of anti-bullying training materials for parents, teachers and Boards of Management.
My Department is committed to continuing implementation of the Anti-Bullying Action Plan through continued support for the development of anti-bullying training materials and awareness-raising initiatives, which include support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aims to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed.
In addition, the national anti-bullying website, www.tacklebullying.ie, was launched as a single point of information and support for young people, parents and teachers affected by bullying. The 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to review implementation of the National Action Plan on Bullying in our schools as part of the development of an LGBTI+ Youth Strategy. My Department is represented on the Oversight Committee for the LGBTI+ Youth Strategy.